Kennedy-Western University Changes Name

Kennedy-Western University has announced they're changing their name to Warren National University:

Kennedy-Western University will be changing its name to Warren National University. This change will be a gradual transition and expected to continue through the end of 2006, with an official transition date of January 1, 2007. The new name, Warren National University, was selected in honor of the first governor of Wyoming, Francis E. Warren, and reflects the University's strong ties to the State of Wyoming.

Why is the University changing its name? The answer is simple and direct. We are entering a new and exciting phase in the growth and development of Kennedy Western.

Because when you think "exciting," "new" or "growth" you immediately think "Wyoming."

UTI Added to the Stock Quote Section

I added UTI, Universal Technical Institute, to the side stock links. If you know of any other public online schools I don't have let me know.

DeVry Fall Enrollment Up

This is pretty classic. DeVry's fall enrollment is up...but by how much?

Rueters says it's up by 11.9%...but the AP says it was up by only 4.9%.

It's a mystery!

Does University of Phoenix Suck?

According to uopsucks.com...yes. The site is run by a group of former students who have had bad experiences at the University of Phoenix.

The site is awfully comprehensive featuring a forum listing all the domain names UOP owns, former employees calling out the company, a bill from the UOP school Axia College and even a blog.

Check it out and decide for yourself.

University of Phoenix: It's NOT Inside

Looks like Intel employees aren't going to be able to get reimbursed for going to University of Phoenix anymore:

Intel Corp. employees can no longer attend the University of Phoenix and a host of other schools on the company's dime because of stricter standards for tuition reimbursement.

Alan Fisher, Intel's manager of global extended education programs, said the change is in no way an indictment of for-profit schools like the University of Phoenix, but rather a reflection on Intel's culture and highly educated workforce.

Have 5K, Will Do Option #1

Have $5,000? The Motley Fool has a few suggestions, including getting your degree online:

Remodel yourself
Another option is remodeling yourself. You could go back to school, for example, learning a new skill or even a new profession. At Apollo Group's online school University of Phoenix, for example, you can take courses or earn a degree or professional certificate. At many colleges, you can take a course preparing you for a human resources management certification for around $1,100, and at Washington Post's Kaplan University, you may be able to become a forensic nurse if you have $3,400 to spend and 12 months to study, earning up to $55 or more per hour.

Online College Courses Experience 'Phenomenal' Growth

Online college enrollments are surging:

"The growth was phenomenal," said Jeff Seaman, Sloan's CIO and survey director, who also serves as co-director of the Babson College survey research group. "It's higher in absolute numbers and higher in percentages than anything we've measured before. And it's across the board," at schools ranging from doctoral institutions to those offering associate's degrees to for-profit colleges.

Online College Enrollment Surges

More adults are taking online college courses but mainstream acceptance of these degrees are still a ways away:

"Online enrollments have been growing substantially faster than the overall higher education student body," said the report, based on responses from chief academic officers at more than 2,200 U.S. colleges and universities.

At the same time, fewer of the administrators at both public and private colleges said their faculty "accept the value and legitimacy of online education," raising a critical obstacle for a method of making college more affordable and more accessible to nontraditional students, the report said.

Baylor Says No to Online Education

Baylor University won't be offering an online education program in-favor of in-class education and community learning appeal according to the ZDNet Education Blog:

"I do think a factor in why these courses haven't developed is because of Baylor's historical valuing of having an in-class experience where you have inner change among the various students in the class in real time," said Dr. James Bennighof, vice provost for academic affairs and policy. "Part of the interest in having a residential campus has to do with people learning in a community."

Not Good for University of Phoenix

Ugh, first the Cardinals lose to the Raiders (the Raiders!) now this:

The company that runs the University of Phoenix reports fourth-quarter income that disappoints investors. Plus, the report raises questions on whether the for-profit education provider's business model is working.

According to unaudited results, Phoenix-based Apollo Group's net income in the recent quarter fell 12 percent to 93 (m) million dollars, or 54 cents a share. That's down from 106 (m) million dollars, or 58 cents, for the same quarter a year ago.